Applicator including variable volumetric feed valve system



July 4, 1967 R. A. MOHN ETAL 3,329,123

ED VALVE SYSTEN APPLICATOR INCLUDING VARIABLE VOLUMETRIC F 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 19, 1965 INVENTO as A. MOH/V .A/v TOA/ELL/ REUBEN fI/v GELO A WJMZI ATTORNEYS July 4, 1967 R. A. MOHN ETAL 3,329,123

APFLICATOR INCLUDING VARIABLE VOLUMETRIC FEED VALVE. SYSTEM Filed May 19, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7\5\ 1 444; 2/ 5/ zz 39 I INVENTOFLS REUBEN A. MOHN ANGELO A.A/v TO/VELL/ ATTORNEYS United States Patent sota Filed May 19, 1965, Ser. No. 457,014 6 Claims. (Cl. 1182) This invention relates to devices for applying liquid to sheet-like textile fabrications such as floor mats and the like, and is in the nature of a modification of the liquid applicator disclosed and claimed in our copending application, filed May 3, 1965, Ser. No. 452,836, and entitled Liquid Applicator for Floor Mats and the Like.

More particularly, this invention relates generally to devices for applying a water absorbent agent, in liquid form, to the tuft portion or nap of a mat, the water absorbent agent being dissolved in or carried by a volatile liquid carrier which rapidly evaporates from the nap, leaving the water absorbent agent distributed in dry form throughout the mat adjacent the upper surface thereof.

Many mats, such as commonly used in the entrance portions of public or office buildings, institutions and the like, during inclement or wet weather, are provided with a rubber coating on the bottom surface thereof to prevent slippage. In view of the fact that many volatile liquids are injurious to rubber compounds, an important object of this invention is the provision of a liquid applicator which will effectively apply the liquid to the nap of a mat in such a manner that contact between the volatile liquid and the rubber bottom of the mat is avoided.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an applicator as set forth which will apply liquid to a mat uniformly over the mapped surface thereof. To this end, we provide a table having a generally horizontally disposed top on which a mat is placed with the napped side thereof disposed downwardly, an elongated hollow dispensing head extending along the rear edge of the top and having liquid discharge aperture means extending longitudinally of the head through the top surface thereof. We further provide means for delivering liquid to the dispensing head and for automatically controlling the rate of flow of liquid, so that mats of different predetermined width may be treated with an optimum quantity of the liquid. Means is further provided for conveying the mats over said dispensing head at a predetermined speed, the rate of flow of fluid to the dispensing head also being in accordance with the speed of movement of a mat thereover.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a dispensing head having means for preventing turbu lence of liquid therein as the liquid is delivered to the dispensing head, whereby to produce an even flow of the 7 liquid outwardly through the discharge aperture means.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a liquid applicator of the type herein described, which is simple and inexpensive to produce, which is highly efficient in operation, and which is rugged in construction and durable in use.

The above, and still further highly important objects .and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claims and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawing, which illustrate the invention, and in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a liquid applicator for floor mats produced in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is. a diagrammatic view illustrating the liquid supply apparatus;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view in end elevation, as seen from the right of FIG. 1, some parts being broken away and some parts being shown in section;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in transverse section, taken substantially on the line 44 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the dispensing head of this invention, some parts being broken away and some parts being shown in section.

Referring with greater detail to the drawings, a table 1 is shown as comprising a generally rectangular frame 2 supported by front and rear legs 3 and 4 respectively and a generally horizontally disposed table top 5 mounted on the frame 2. The top 5 involves a base portion 6 and a preferably metallic cover plate 7 having a longitudinally extending rear edge portion 8 that is forwardly disposed with respect to the rear legs 4 and rearwardly of the rear edge 9 of the base portion 6, see FIG. 4. The frame 2 further includes a horizontally disposed rear frame member 10 and a cross frame member 11, the latter underlying and supporting the rear edge portion of the table top 5. Further, the table 1 includes a horizontally disposed supporting shelf 12 that is carried by the legs '4 and a generally U-shaped hanger bracket 13 welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the frame 2.

A11 elongated hollow dispensing head 14 is suitably mounted on a plurality of laterally spaced inverted U- shaped bars 15 welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the frame members 10 and 11, the dispensing head 14 being disposed in rearwardly spaced parallel relation to the rear edge 9 of the table top base portion 6. The dispensing head 14 is formed to provide opposed end walls 16, front and rear walls 17 and 18 respectively, and top and bottom walls 19 and 20 respectively. The top wall being substantially flat and disposed substantially in the plane of the table top 5 so that the rear edge portion 8 of the cover plate 7 rests thereon, see FIG. 4. The top wall 19 is formed to provide liquid discharge means in the nature of a slot 21 therethrough, the slot 21 extending for the greater part of the length of the dispensing head 14. Preferably, and as shown in FIG. 4, the front and rear walls 17 and 18 are provided with longitudinally spaced mounting lugs 22 for reception of nut-equipped mounting screws or the like 23 for securing the dispensing head 14 to the several support brackets or members 15.

Mat treating liquid is supplied to the dispensing head 14 by means including a conventional liquid pump 24 that is driven by a motor 25 through an endless drive belt 26. As shown, the pump 24 and motor 25 are mounted on the shelf 12, the pump 24 drawing liquid from the reservoir 27 on the shelf 12 through a conduit 28 including a check valve 29. Conduit means extends from the pump 24 into the dispensing head 14, the conduit means comprising a conduit 30, a check valve 31, a pair of conduit sections 32 and 33 connected to the conduit 30 by a fitting 34 and the check valve 31, conduit members 3 5 and 36 connected to the conduit sections 32 and 33 by fittings 37 and a conduit portion 38 extending longitudinally within a chamber 39 defined by the walls of the dispenser head 14. The conduit portion 38 is disposed in closely spaced relation to the bottom wall 20 of the dispenser head 14, and is provided with discharge means in the nature of a plurality of longitudinally spaced discharge openings 40 that are angularly displaced in a direction away from the overlying discharge slot 21 in the dispensing head 14. The positioning of the conduit portion 38 adjacent the bottom wall 20 of the dispensing head 14, together with the positioning of the discharge opening 40, causes liquid delivered to the chamber 18 to flow thereabout in a general direction circumferentially of the longitudinal axis of the dispensing head 14, with a minimum of turbulence within the chamber 18. In view of the fact that the normal rate of flow of liquid outwardly through the slot 21 is not rapid, circulation of the liquid in the chamber 18 is quite slow and smooth.

Means for controlling flow of liquid from the pump 24 to the dispensing head 14 comprises a pair of adjustable metering valves 41 and 42 interposed in the conduit sections 32 and 33 respectively, and a pair of control valves 43 and 44 each interposed in the conduit sections 32 and 33 respectively. The control valves 43 and 44 are operated by conventional solenoids 45 and 46 respectively, the solenoids 45 and 46 being disposed in a control circuit comprising a pair of power leads 47 and 48 which may be assumed to be connected to a source of electrical power, not shown. One side of each of the solenoids 45 and 46 is connected to the power lead 48, the opposite side of the solenoid 45 being connected to a normally open switch 40, the opposite side of the solenoid 46 being connected to a contact 50 of a twoposition switch 51. The switch 51 further includes a contact 52 that is connected to the normally open switch 49 by a lead 3, and a contact 54 that is connected to the power lead 47. The switch 51 is arranged so that the contacts 52 and 54 are normally closed. whereby the contacts 52 and 54, switch 49 and solenoid 45 are disposed in a series circuit. When the contacts 50 and 54 are closed, as will hereinafter appear, the solenoid 45 is shunted and a circuit is completed including the contacts 50 and 54 of the switch 51 and the solenoid 46. Preferably, the metering valves 41 and 42 are preadjusted so that the valve 42 transmits liquid at a greater rate of flow than does the valve 41.

The switches 49 and 51 are operated by a pair of switch actuators 5'5 and 56 respectively in the nature of plate-like members that are hingedly mounted in the table top 5, as indicated at 57, see FIG. and push rods 58, one of which is shown in FIG. 4. The actuators 55 and 56 are disposed at opposite end portions of the table top 5, and normally project upwardly through the plane of the top surface thereof into the path of travel of a mat being moved rearwardly toward the dispensing head 14. The switches 49 and 51 are suitably mounted to the frame 2 in underlying relationship to their respective push rods 58.

An overflow basin or trough 59 is supported by the frame 2 in underlying relationship to the dispenser head 14, and is provided with a drain pipe 60 for return of overflow liquid through the reservoir 27. Also, connected to the reservoir 27 is one end of a branch conduit 61, the opposite end of which is connected to the conduit 30 intermediate the pump 24 and check valve 31. Interposed in the conduit 61 is a conventional heating device 62 and a pressure regulator valve 63, the heating device 62 being controlled by a thermostat 64 in the well known manner. Liquid pressure in the system is indicated by a conventional pressure gauge 65 connected to the conduit 30, and the temperature of the liquid is indicated by a conventional thermometer gauge 66, the gauges 65 and 66 being suitably mounted on an inverted generally U- shaped frame 67 overlying the rear frame member 10. The temperature gauge 66 is connected to a sensing element, not shown, within the reservoir 27, by means of a tube 68, see FIG. 2.

Means for conveying a mat to be treated, over the liquid dispensing head 14, comprises a conveyor roller 69 disposed in overlying spaced parallel relation to the slot 21, the roller 69 being provided with a mat engaging tire or cover 70. The roller 69 is mounted on an axial shaft 71 that is journalled at its opposite end portions in suitable bearings 72 bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to the opposite ends of the frame 67. The conveyor roller '69 is driven from the motor 25 through suitable speed reduction gearing not shown but contained within a housing 73 and having an output shaft 74 on which is mounted a sprocket wheel 75. An endless link chain 76 is entrained over the sprocket wheel 75 and over a second sprocket wheel 77 mounted fast on one end of the shaft 71. An idler sprocket 78 is suitably journalled at one end of a mounting bar 79 pivotally secured at its other end to the frame 2, the sprocket wheel 78 engaging the drive chain 76, as shown in FIG. 3. A coil tension spring 80 is secured at one end to the mounting bar 79 and at its other end to the frame 2 and yieldingly urges the sprocket wheel 78 toward engagement with the drive chain 76 to maintain proper tension thereon. A conventional guard 81 overlies the chain 76 and sprocket wheels cooperating therewith to prevent possible injury to the operator.

A plurality of arcuate guide bars 82 are disposed in rearwardly spaced relation to the conveyor roll 69 and concentric therewith, the guide bars 82 being welded or otherwise rigidly secured at their opposite ends to the rear frame member 10 and frame '67 in spaced apart relationship longitudinally of the conveyor roll 69.

For the purpose of aiding in removal of the treated mat from engagement with the cover 70 on the roll 69, a plurality of stripper fingers 83 are utilized. The stripper fingers 83 are welded or otherwise rigidly secured in spaced apart relationship to a supporting bar 84 preferably m-ade from commercial angle iron or the like, and disposed forwardly of the conveyor roll 69 and parallel thereto. The supporting bar 84 is supported at its opposite ends in upwardly spaced relationship to the rear edge portion of the table top 5 by a pair of legs 85, the bar 84- being so disposed that the stripper fingers 83 extend in a direction generally tangentially to the conveyor roll 69.

Assuming that the reservoir 27 contains a supply of treatment liquid and that the heater 62 is operative, energization of the motor 25 will initiate operation of the pump 24 to circulate the liquid through the reservoir and heater 62 until the liquid is heated to the desired operating temperature. The operator then places a mat, not shown, nap side downwardly on the top surface of the table 1 at one end portion thereof, as for instance, the right hand end portion of the table as viewed in FIG. 1. If the mat is of a width insufficient to stand the distance between the switch actuators 55 and 56, rearward movement of the mat by the operator will cause the leading edge of the mat to engage only the actuator 55, the weight of the mat being sufficient to cause closing of the switch 49. A circuit is then completed through the solenoid 45 to cause opening of the valve 43, whereupon treatment liquid will be pumped through the check valve 31, valve 43 and 41 and conduit elements 35 and 36 to the chamber 39 of the dispensing head. The valves 41 and 42 are pre-set to a condition wherein the rate of liquid flow through the valve 42 is substantially greater than that through the valve 41. As the mat is pushed rearwardly by the operator, the nap of the mat moves over the slot 21, the back surface of the mat being engaged by the cover 70 of the conveyor roll 69, to cause the mat to be fed rearwardly at a predetermined rate of speed. As the mat moves rearwardly, treatment liquid being forced upwardly through the slot 21 soaks into the nap of the mat, the rate of discharge of the liquid through the slot 21 being such that there is little, if any, overflow of liquid through that portion of the slot 21 that is not covered by the mat. During its rearward progress, the mat encounters the guide bars 82 which hold the same against the conveyor roll 69 and guide the mat upwardly and generally forwardly toward the operator. The stripper fingers 83 engage the leading edge of the mat and guide the same away from the conveyor roll 69 toward the operator, so that the treated mat may be easily grasped and carried away to be dried and used.

The machine illustrated is designed to be used to treat mats of two uniform widths, the narrower mats engaging only the actuator 55, and the wider mats engaging both actuators 55 and 56. When wider mats are being treated, engagement of the actuator 56 causes the switch 51 to be operated to open the circuit through the contacts 52 and 54, to shunt out the circuit through the solenoid 45, and to close the circuit through the contacts 50 and 54 to render the solenoid 46 operative to permit an increased rate of flow of treatment liquid to the dispensing head 14. It will be appreciated that additional valve, switches and switch actuators may be used intermediate the actuators 55 and 56 to adapt the machine for use with rugs having various intermediate widths, to insure proper rate of flow of the liquid to the dispensing head 14 in accordance with the width of a given mat.

The above described control of the rate of liquid fiow to the dispensing head 14 assures proper treatment of the nap of the mat and effectively prevents the treatment liquid from reaching the rubber "backing of the mat and possible deterioration thereof.

The above-described machine has been thoroughly tested and found to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the objectives set forth; and while a commercial embodiment of the machine has been disclosed, it will be understood that the same is capable of modification without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a liquid applicator for floor mats and the like:

(a) a table including a generally horizontally disposed top having spaced elongated front and rear edges,

(b) an elongated hollow dispensing head adjacent the rear edge of the top and extending longitudinally of :said edge,

(c) said dispensing head defining an elongated liquid delivery chamber and including a generally horizontally disposed top wall portion substantially level with the top surface of said top and having aperture means therethrough to said chamber for discharge of liquid upwardly from said chamber, said aperture means extending longitudinally for the greater part of the length of said head,

(d) conveyor means overlying said dispensing head and engageable with a mat to move the mat transversely over said aperture means,

(e) liquid delivery means including a pump and a conduit for delivery of liquid to said chamber, said conduit including a conduit portion extending longitudinally within said chamber in downwardly spaced relation to said aperture means and having discharge means angularly displaced in a direction away from said aperture means,

(f) and means for automatically controlling the rate of flow of said liquid to said chamber in accordance with the longitudinal dimension of the mat-covered portion of said aperture means when a mat is conveyed thereover.

2. The liquid applicator defined in claim 1 in which said conduit portion extends through one end of said dispensing head and is disposed in the lower portion of said chamber, said discharge means comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced discharge openings in said conduit portion.

3. The liquid applicator defined in claim 1 in which said liquid delivery means includes a pair of valves each operative to transmit liquid at a different rate of flow, and in which said means for controlling the rate of flow of liquid to the chamber includes control elements for opening and closing said valves selectively responsive to movement of mats of different widths over said table top toward said aperture means.

4. The liquid applicator defined in claim 3 in which said control means includes an electric control circuit, said control elements comprising a pair of switches, and mat engaging switch actuators each operatively connected with a different one of said switches and mounted on said table at laterally spaced points for engagement of one thereof by a relatively narrow mat moved toward said dispensing head and for engagement of both thereof by a relatively Wide mat.

5. In a liquid applicator for floor mats and the like:

(a) a table including a generally horizontally disposed top having spaced elongated front and rear edges,

(b) an elongated hollowed dispensing head adjacent the rear edge of the top and extending longitudinally of said rear edge,

(c) said dispensing head defining an elongated liquid delivery chamber and including side walls, end walls, a bottom wall and a generally horizontally disposed flat top wall substantially level with the top surface of said table top and having an elongated slot therethrough to said chamber for discharge of liquid upwardly from said chamber, said slot extending longitudinally tor the greater part of the length of said dispensing head,

(d) conveyor means overlying said dispensing head and engageable with a mat on said table top to move said mat transversely over said slot transversely thereof,

(e) conduit means including a conduit portion extending longitudinally within said chamber and having opposite ends extending through adjacent ones of the end walls of said head, a pump, and a pair of branch conduit sections operatively connected to said pump and each connected to the ends of said conduit portion,

(f) said conduit portion having discharge means within said chamber angularly displaced in a direction away from said slot,

(g) a pair of valves one each interposed in a different one of said conduit sections, and each operative to transmit liquid at a dilTerent rate of flow than the other thereof,

(h) and valve operating means for automatically opening and closing said valves selectively to control the flow of liquid to said chamber in accordance with the longitudinal dimension of the mat covered portion of said slot when a mat is moved thereover.

6. The liquid applicator defined in claim 5 in which said valve operating means comprises an electrical circuit including a pair of valve operating solenoids one for each of said valves, a pair of switches one for each of the said solenoids and having cooperating switch actuators, said switch actuators being mounted in said top in spaced relation longitudinally of said dispensing head and each normally disposed in a path of travel of a mat over said top toward said dispensing head.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,751,960 3/1930 Veenstra 239-597 X 2,192,833 3/1940 Johnson 118411 2,775,952 1/1957 Schur 1l88 2,781,020 2/1957 Scott 1l8--301 X 2,897,777 8/1959 Schur 118411 X 3,013,445 12/1961 Enssle 118--2 X 3,083,685 4/1963 Colgan 118-410 3,205,089 9/1965 Kinzelman 118-602 X MORRIS KAPLAN, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A LIQUID APPLICATOR FOR FLOOR MATS AND THE LIKE: (A) A TABLE INCLUDING A GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED TOP HAVING SPACED ELONGATED FRONT AND REAR EDGES, (B) AN ELONGATED HOLLOW DISPENSING ADJACENT THE REAR EDGE OF THE TOP AND EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID EDGE, (C) SAID DISPENSING HEAD DEFINING AN ELONGATED LIQUID DELIVERY CHAMBER AND INCLUDING A GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED TOP WALL PORTION SUBSTANTIALLY LEVEL WITH THE TOP SURFACE OF SAID TOP AND HAVING APERTURE MEANS THERETHROUGH TO SAID CHAMBER FOR DISCHARGE OF LIQUID UPWARDLY FROM SAID CHAMBER, SAID APERTURE MEANS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY FOR THE GREATER PART OF THE LENGTH OF SAID HEAD, (D) CONVEYOR MEANS OVERLYING SAID DISPENSING HEAD AND ENGAGEABLE WITH A MAT TO MOVE THE MAT TRANSVERSELY OVER SAID APERTURE MEANS, (E) LIQUID DELIVERY MEANS INCLUDING A PUMP AND A CONDUIT FOR DELIVERY OF LIQUID TO SAID CHAMBER, SAID CONDUIT INCLUDING A CONDUIT PORTION EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY WITHIN SAID CHAMBER IN DOWNWARDLY SPACED RELATION TO SAID APERTURE MEANS AND HAVING DISCHARGE MEANS ANGULARLY DISPLACED IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM SAID APERTURE MEANS, (F) AND MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING THE RATE OF FLOW OF SAID LIQUID TO SAID CHAMBER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LONGITUDINAL DIMENSION OF THE MAT-COVERED PORTION OF SAID APERTURE MEANS WHEN A MAT IS CONVEYED THEREOVER. 